I learned the value of the motto "Be
Prepared" when I was a Boy Scout.
While you can't prepare for everything, you
can anticipate likely events and plan for them, such as being in a
car accident.
Car accidents are a concern for parents of
children with Asperger Syndrome.
My wife and I frequently get asked by
parents if our 24 year old son, Drew, who has Asperger Syndrome,
drives. Yes. And he's a careful driver. So careful that he once
spent a second too long looking down to make sure he was doing
exactly the speed limit, and couldn't stop in time when the driver
in front of him slammed on her brakes. There was bumper damage on
each car, but no one was hurt. Since then, Drew has adapted his
glance-down time.
Recently, Drew has been involved with two
other accidents that were not his fault. Both were minor and no one
was hurt. His first two "accident experiences" helped him learn the
procedure for dealing with such situations. He was a lot more calm
and confident dealing with the third incident.
Anyone can be shaken by a car accident,
even a minor fender-bender. For some people, the aftermath of
dealing with the other driver, witnesses and the police may seem
more overwhelming than the collision.
After Drew's first fender-bender, I
customized a "post accident checklist" and put copies in our family cars. I
recommend everyone keep such a checklist, and go over what to do in
case of an accident with every driver in the family.
Statistics tell us that even careful
drivers risk having an accident sooner or later. Some accidents are
unavoidable. Drew had one driver scrape his back bumper while he was
stopped at a traffic light, and another suddenly pull into his path
from a driveway.
Picture how each driver in your family
would be likely to respond after an accident. Wouldn't it give you
more peace of mind to provide them with some written instructions
and maybe hold a practice session walking through what to do? You
might even arrange for a police officer to talk with your son or
daughter and explain what to expect.
Your car insurance agent can probably
supply you with a "If You Have An Accident" checklist that you can
personalize based on your family members' needs. Many insurance
companies post such checklists on their websites.
At the end of this article, I've included a
simple version of the accident checklist we keep in our cars, minus
our personal information. This works for us. You need to determine
what will work for you, based on your situation and your state and
local laws. I'd recommend filling in your personal information
beforehand and printing several copies. Also, you might want to put
the documents in a three ring binder or on a clipboard so the driver
has a portable writing surface -- and attach a pen.
I was able to be on the scene quickly after
the most recent incident, where the car pulled out in front of Drew.
While I was initially relieved to learn that no one was hurt, I felt
a second wave of relief to see Drew dealing calmly and confidently
with the other driver and the police.
This is the way you want your family member
to be able to deal with this situation. Trust me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dan Coulter produces
videos about Asperger Syndrome and autism. His latest release is,
"Understanding Brother and Sisters with Asperger Syndrome." You can
find more articles on his website at:
Copyright 2007 All Rights
Reserved Used By Permission
**********************************************************************************************
WHAT TO DO AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
1 __ IF ANYONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT, CALL 911
AND SUMMON HELP.
2 __ CALL YOUR PARENTS.
Home: ________________________
Work: ________________________
Dad cell: ____________________
Mom Cell _____________________
3 __ CALL THE POLICE. If there is damage to
the cars involved, call and report the accident to the police. Be
ready to tell the police where you are. Look on a nearby building
for a street address or look for the names of the two streets at a
nearby intersection. Stay at the accident scene until the police
arrive.
Police Phone Number:
________________________
4 ___ EXCHANGE INFORMATION WITH THE OTHER
DRIVER OR DRIVERS INVOLVED.
(See attached sheets).
A. SHARE WRITTEN INFORMATION: Give him or
her your name, address, phone number, car license number, car
registration number, insurance company name and insurance policy
number; and get the same information from him or her. It's best to
have your information printed out and ready beforehand.
B. DON'T COMMENT: Do not tell the other
driver if you think the accident was your fault or his fault.
C. DON'T ARGUE: If the other driver is
uncooperative or attempts to argue with you, don't argue, just write
down the license number of his car and wait for the police.
5 ___ COOPERATE WITH THE POLICE.
Stay calm. When the police arrive, follow
their directions and answer their questions. Have your driver's
license and registration ready for them.
When they ask, describe what happened
briefly and clearly. Don't talk about things not directly connected
to the accident. The police officer should give you a copy of his
preliminary report, with the other driver's contact and insurance
information, before the officer leaves the scene.
4 __ IF YOU CAN'T REACH YOUR PARENTS, CALL
YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY.
Insurance Company Name
_______________________________
Insurance Policy Number:
____________________
Business Hours Phone:
_________________________
After Business Hours Phone:
____________________
6 __ NOTE: Car registration and insurance
card information are in an envelope in the car's glove compartment.
*******************************************************************************************
INFORMATION TO COLLECT FOR YOURSELF (Use
more than one form if multiple other vehicles were involved.)
Other driver's information:
Name:
___________________________________________
Address:
____________________________________
City: _________________________ State:
____________ Zip Code: ________
Phone # s:
_________________________________________________________
Vehicle license #:
___________________________________
Vehicle registration #:
__________________________________________
Make, model and year of other vehicle:
_______________________________________
Insurance company name:
_____________________________________
Insurance policy #:
___________________________________________
Time of accident: _____________________
Date of accident: _____________________
Location of accident: (Near corner of two
streets? Address of nearby building?)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Describe damage to each car:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Names and phone numbers of witnesses, if
any:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
***********************************************************************************************
(New Page)
INFORMATION TO GIVE OTHER DRIVER
Your Name:
_________________________________ Your Address:
___________________________________________
Your Phone Number:
____________________________________________
Your car's year, make, model, car license
number:
_______________________________________________________________
Your car's registration
number:_________________________________________
Your Insurance information:
Insurance Company Name:
____________________________
Policy #
___________________________________
Phone: ____________________________________
